Pump atomizer



F. CUSTER PUMP ATOMIZER March 15, 1932.

Filed Dec. 16, 1929 7 J WU?! 1 m w wm. m 1 8 9 v O 1 A E Jmmtbc (Q /led CW Patented Mar. 15, 1932 umrrro STATES rarest orFIeE.

FRED CUSTER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DE VILIBISS COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO PUMP ATOMIZEE Application filed. December 16, 1929. Serial No. 414,373.

This invention relates to atomizers of the character adapted for spraying liquids in finely atomized form, and has reference more particularly to those of the type commonly referred to as pump atomizers.

The object of myinvention is the provision of a simple, elficient and inexpensive atomizer of this character which is of small size to adapt it to be carried in a pocket, in a vanity case, or in a purse, and which may be secured in compact inoperative from, and when so secured, be tightly sealed to prevent leakage of its liquid contents.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while in its broader aspect it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, the preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of an atomizer embodying the invention with the parts released to permit the pumping operation. Fig. 2 is a similar View with the parts secured in sealed relation and with parts in full, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a cylinder, which is open at one end and has its other end closed, in the present instance, by a closure member 2 of plug form. The closed end is provided through the member .2

with an air-inlet passage 3 in which is dis-- posed a valve 41-, in the present instance, of ball type, adapted to openv under an external pressure and to close under an internal pressure.

The valve l is retained in the passage 3 by the shoulder 5 of a plug 6 overlapping an edge portion of an inner end of the passage 3. The plug 6 is threaded into a recess 7 disposed centrally in the member 2, and the plug itself is hollow to cooperatewith the recess to form a housing for a coiled compression spring 8. This spring acts against a pin form of valve 9 to yieldingly project its outer end a distance into the chamber formed by the cylinder 1. The purpose of this valve will be hereinafter described.

Fitting into the cylinder 1 and working outwardly through its open end is a pump plunger 10, which is itself of hollow cylindrical form to provide a chamber 11 therein for the reception of the material 12 to be sprayed, which, for instance, may be perfume. The inner end of the plunger is provided with a gasket 13 of cup form, such as is commonly used in connection with pump plungers, the gasket being held to the plunger by aflanged plug 14 threaded into the closed end thereof.

The plunger 10 is preferably of sulficient length to project at its outer end without the open end of the cylinder 1 when the plunger is at the inner limit of its stroke. The outer end of the chamber is closed by a plug or other suitable member 15 forming what may be considered the spray head of the atomizer.

This spray head 15 has its outer end provided centrally with a countersink or recess 16 havin a sharp annular marginal edge portion 1 for the purpose hereinafter described. The bottom of the recess 16 is provided centrally or axially of the plunger with a relatively small discharge orifice 18, which opens at its inner end into a larger passage 19, which in turn opens at its inner end into a still larger passage 20, all disposedin axial alignment in the head 15. The head 15 is also provided with a vent passage 21 extending from the top portion of the chamber 11 to the recess 16-at one side of the orifice 18.

The plug 14 has a passage 22 therethrough in axial register with the discharge orifice .18, and a small air tube 23 extends from this passage lengthwise through the plunger 10 and into the passage 19 of the head 15, with the discharge end of its passageway terminating adjacent to the orifice 18 in axial register therewith and being smaller in cross sectional area than said orifice. Communication is provided between the orifice 18 and passage through the passage 19 at the sides of the tube 23 for the purpose-and in any suitable manner well understood in the art;

A liquid tube 2% is provided in telescoping relation to the air tube 23, with one end secured in the passage 20 and its other end terminating near the bottom of the" chamber 11 in submerged relation to theliquid and in communication therewith. The bore of the tube 24 is larger than the-air tube 23 to permit the passage of liquid therethrough to the space in the head passage 19 at the side of the air tube. It is apparent that the discharge of air through the orifice 18 from the tube 23 will create a suction through the passages 19, and tube 24 and cause the liquid in the container to be drawn up into the passage 19 and be discharged through the orifice 18 with the air in finely broken up spray form, as well understood in the art.

A bail member 25 is attached to the upper end portion of the cylinder 1 for swinging movements over the open end thereof and this bail is provided at its central portion with a valve member 26, in the present instance, of ball form, which, when the plunger 10 is at or near the limit of its inward stroke, is adapted to seat in the recess 16 against the sharp edge wall 17 thereof. When the plunger is in this position, the pin valve 9 coacts with the outer end of the plug passage 22 to close said passage to prevent any possible leakage of the liquid 12 into the cylinder 1 and from said cylinder through the air inlet passage, should the device be inverted or placed on its side. W hen the plunger 10 is in this sealed position, the pin valve 9 is depressed against the spring 8 so that a yielding thrust is exerted by said valve against the plunger to hold its valve seat 17 against the valve 26, thereby preventing leakage from the recess 16 of any fluid which may enter the same through the orifice 18 or vent 21. The ball valve 26 is preferably permitted to freely turn on the bail 25.

It is apparent that in the use of my atomizer, the operator first throws the valve 26 over to inoperative position, as shown in Fig.

.1, thereby releasing the plunger and permitting it to be operated to effect a discharge of liquid in spray-form from the receptacle 11. On an outward stroke of the plunger, air is drawn into the cylinderl through the valved inlet 3 and on the next inward stroke of the plunger such air is forced through the passage 22 and tube 23 and discharged through the orifice 18. This discharge causes the liquid to be drawn up into the passage 19 through the liquid tube 24 and to be discharged with the air through the orifice 18 in finely atomized or broken up form, as well! understood in the art.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. In an atomizer of the class described, a cylinder having a valved air inlet thereto, a plunger working in said cylinder and having a chamber therein for containing a liquid to be sprayed and a discharge orifice at its outer end, said plunger also having means forming an air passageway from the interior of said cylinder to a point adjacent to said discharge orifice, a yielding valve memberin the lower portion of the cylinder for coaction with said passage to close its communication with the interior of the cylinder when the plunger is at the lower end portion of its stroke, and means operable to engage the cylinder and plunger to retain them in said passage-clos-. ing relation.

2. In an atomizer of the class described, a cylinder having a valved air inlet, a plunger reciprocally movable in the cylinder and having a chamber for containing the liquid to be sprayed and a discharge orifice for the liquid, said plunger also having an air passage and a liquid passage in communication with said orifice, the air passage having communication with the interior of the cylinder and the liquid passage with the interior of the pump chamber near its bottom, a valve member mounted in the bottom of the cylinder and adapted to coact with the plunger to exert a yielding outward pressure thereon and to close said plunger air passage when the plunger is at the inner end portion of its stroke, and means releasably connecting said cylinder and plunger to retain the latter at the inner end portion of its stroke.

3. In an atomizer of the class described, a cylinder having a valved air inlet, a plunger reciprocally movable in the cylinder and having a chamber for containing the liquid to be sprayed and a discharge orifice for the liquid, said plunger also having an air passage and a liquid passage in communication with said orifice, the air passage having communication with the interior of the cylinder and the liquid passage with the interior of the pump chamber near its bottom, a valve member mounted in the bottom of the cylinder and adapted to coact with the plunger to exert an outward pressure thereon and to close said plunger air passage when the plunger is at the inner end portion of its stroke, and means releasably connecting said cylinder and plunger to retain the latter at the inner end portion of its stroke, said means also including a valve which closes the discharge orifice when the plunger is held by said means at the inner end portion of its stroke.

4. In an atomizer of the class described, a cylinder having a valve-controlled air inlet, a hollow plunger reciprocally mounted in the cylinder and adapted to contain a liquid to be sprayed, said plunger having a spray head at its outer end with an air vent in communication with the interior of the plunger and with a discharge orifice in communication both with the interior of the plunger near its inner end and with the inner end portion of the cylinder whereby a reciprocation of the plunger in the cylinder will cause air and liquid to be discharged from the orifice in sprayform, a valve member in the lower portion of the cylinder both for closing thecommunication end portion of its stroke and which, when in such osition, acts to close the orifice and air vent 1n the plunger to prevent leakage therethrough from the interior of the plunger.

. 5. Inan atomizer of the class described, a cylinder having a valve-controlledair inlet, a hollow plunger reciprocally mounted in the cylinder and adapted to contain a liquid to be sprayed, said plunger having a spray head at its outer end'with an air vent in communication with the interior of the plunger and with a discharge orifice in communication both with the interior of the. plunger near its inner end and with the inner end portion of the ,cylinderwhereby a reciprocation of the plunger in the cylinder will cause air and liquid to be discharged from the orifice in sprayform, a valve member in the lower portion of the cylinder both for closing the communication between the orifice and cylinder and for exerting an outward pressure on the plunger when at the inner end portion of its stroke, and a bail member carried by thecylinder and operable to releasably engage the outer end portion of the plunger when at the inner end of its stroke relative to the cylinder and having a valve portion which coacts with the plunger to prevent leakage of liquid from the interior of the plunger through the orifice and air vent.

6. In an atomizer of the class described,

a cylinder having a valved air inlet at its inner end portion, a plunger reciprocally mounted in the cylinder and being hollow to contain a liquid to be sprayed and having a spray head at its outer end,vsai51 spray head having its outer end portion recessed to pro -vide an annular valve seat at its edge portion and having both an air vent opening communication between the interior of the plunger and said recess and a discharge orifice in communication both with the interior of the plunger near its lower end and with the lower end portion of the cylinder whereby a recip'rocation of the plunger in the cylinder will effect a discharge from said orifice in spray-form of air from the cylinder and liquid from the interior of the plunger, a valve member yieldingly mounted in the bottom portion'of the cylinder and coacting with the plunger both to exert an outward pressure thereon and to close said air communication when the plunger is at the inner end portion of its stroke, and a member 'movably connected to the cylinder and adapted to be engaged to the plunger to retain it at the inner 35 end portion of its stroke and having a valve tween the orifice and cylinder and for v exerting an outward'pressure on the plun er portion which coacts with the valve seat the spray head to seal said recess against leakage when said means is in plunger-holding position.

7. In an atomizer of the class described, a member forming a cylinder having; a valved air inlet, a liquid containing plunger operable in said member and having a passage openmg commumcation between the-interiors of the memberand-plunger, a valve'in the member closing said passage when the plunger is in one position of its movement relative to the member and exerting a yielding outward pressure on the plunger, and means for re leasably holding the plunger and member in such relation and during its plunger'engagmg movement causing 9. limited inward movement of the plunger against the pressure of said valve.

8. In an atomizer of the class described, a member forming a cylinder having an air inlet, a liquid containing plunger operable in said member, said plungervhaving a' sprayhead at its outer end provided with a dis-' charge orifice in communication with the interlors of the plunger and cylinder, and

means for releasably holding the cylinder and plunger in predetermined relation, said means having a member movable over the outer end of the plunger transversely of its axis in holding relation to the. plunger and in closing relation to the discharge orifice of the spray-head, and means'yieldingly acting on thecylinder and plunger whenin said predetermined relation to tend to hold said first means in holding plunger.

9. In an atomizer of the class described, a pump cylinder, a liquid containing plunger operable in the cylinder, said plunger having a spray head at its outer end provided with a discharge orifice in communication with the lnterlor of the plunger, and means swingable about an axis transverse to the,cylinder axis 1 for releasably holding the plunger in predetermined relation to the cylinder and includengagement with the ing a valve part which closes said orifice when the means is in said plungervholding position. i y

10. In an atomizer of the class described,

a pump cylinder, a liquid containing plunger operable in the cylinder, said plunger having a spray head at its outer end provided with v a vent passage in communication with the* interior of the plunger, and bail-like means for releasably holdin the plunger in predetermined relation to the cylinder and including a valve part which closes said vent passage when the means is in said plunger holding position. 1

11. In an atomizer of the class described, a member forming a pump cylinder, a liquid containing plunger operable in saidmember and having a spray head portion at its outer end provided with a discharge orifice andva vent passage both opening communication between the interior of the plunger and the outside, and means pivotally movable about an axis transverse to the cylinder for releasably holding the plunger 1n redeter= mined relation to the cylinder and aving a. I

valve part which closes both. said orifice and vent passage when the means is in said plung er holding position.

12. In an atomizer of the class described, a cylinder having a valved air inlet therein, a. plunger operating in said cylinder and having a discharge orifice at its outer end directed lengthwise thereof and an air passage leading to the discharge orifice from the interior of the cylinder, said plunger having a chamber therein for containing a liquid to be sprayed and a liquid passage leading from the lower portion of such chamber to said discharge orifice, and means pivotally attached to the cylinder and movable across the outer end of the plunger to position to engage such end and hold the plunger at the inner ends of its stroke with respect to the cylinder and at the same time serve as a valve for closing said orifice to prevent leakage of liquid therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

FRED CUSTER. 

